Officials shortage in NW Kansas

[Jimgolf]

From: http://www.wibw.com/news/headlines/11202781.html

COLBY, Kan. (AP) _ Northwest Kansas is short on varsity high school basketball referees.

Northwest Kansas League Commissioner Jim Keenan says there are just seven crews of officials signed up to work every varsity game in the 16-county area for the 2007-2008 season.

About 12 to 15 crews are usually needed for the Northwest Kansas
League, Western Kansas Liberty League and parts of the Mid-Continent and Hi-Plains Leagues.

Keenan says officials from Hays and Garden City will be used. Three or four crews are also on the verge of retiring.

Officials say sportsmanship among basketball fans in the area has been a big reason the decline in officiating crews.

The league held an officials' clinic last weekend to attract new referees.

Originally Posted by Bad Zebra

Someone from Kansas please tell me that is an old picture in the article and that you're not sill wearing shirts with collars and pockets in Kansas.

Either that or Kansas is short of football officials as well & the official in the pic (on the backend of a FB/BB double-header) just completed a football playoff game.

[Bad Zebra]

Just noticed it was a wrestling match in the photo.

[Mark Padgett]

When I saw the title of this post, I thought it meant there were complaints you guys weren't tall enough.

[Nevadaref]

Sportsmanship would be better if they would give a warning and T to all those nasty coaches who are standing, but not saying anything.

[DonInKansas]

Heh, I'm one of those new guys branching out into Basketball this year (been a purely baseball guy for quite a few years) but I'm in SW Kansas an hour south of Dodge City, where it's almost as bad. I had AD's wetting themselves when I called looking for games. Don't think I'll be making the 5 hour drive to Colby though......